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ATIO Offers Community Interpreting Workshop to help Syrian Refugees arriving in Canada

The Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (CNW Group/The Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario) Facebook Twitter Pinterest

The Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (CNW Group/The Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario)

Translators and interpreters from all over Ontario will gather in
Toronto and Ottawa to learn how they can help 25,000 Syrian refugees
arriving in Canada.

OTTAWA, Dec. 9, 2015 /CNW/ - Helping 25,000 Syrian refugees settle in
communities across Canada will be difficult as many do not speak
English or French. ATIO is aware that translators and interpreters'
help will be crucial to make a difference.

"Our education systems do extremely well preparing English and French
translators and interpreters, but right now we need more Arabic and
Kurdish professionals. That is why we are calling on all interpreters
and translators in Ontario to register with ATIO or their provincial
associations to help," says Lisa Carter, President of the Association
of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario.

The lack of Arabic and Kurdish translators in Canada means the
Government faces an even more daunting challenge helping Syrian
refugees settle in predominantly English-speaking or French-speaking
provinces.

An exploration of these issues and the ways in which translators and
interpreters can help newly-arrived refugees will form the basis of
workshops to be held at York University'sGlendon College in Toronto
and the University of Ottawa on December 15 and 16, 2015, respectively.

During the training sessions in Ottawa and Toronto, translators and
interpreters will review interpretation best practices, carry out
practice interpreting scenarios and review the code of ethics in order
to develop good skills in interpretation. Non-member professionals will
also discover the advantages of being part of the professional
association that promotes the language professions in Ontario.

"We hope that after this workshop, translators and interpreters will
recognize how important their professional skills are to help others in
humanitarian situations such as this one. We are certain they will
return to their communities with new knowledge and eager to help the
newly-arrived Syrian families," added Ms. Carter.

Your media house is cordially invited to the training session at 9:00
a.m. on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at the Glendon College, York
University and at the University of Ottawa on December 16, 2015.

ATIO is the first translators' association in the world whose certified
members are deemed professionals by law. In February 1989, the Province
of Ontario granted a reserved title for certified members of ATIO
through the Association of Translators and Interpreters Act, 1989. In Ontario, ATIO is the exclusive certifying body for translators,
terminologists, conference interpreters, court interpreters, community
interpreters and medical interpreters.